The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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This 1.6 cm diameter lens has a carefully-designed 3.5 mm diameter occulting disc embedded within it, to block straylight that spills around the edges of Proba-3's 1.4 m occulting disc mounted onto the Occulter spacecraft. This second occulting disc is located within the Proba-3 Coronagraph spacecraft. The two occulting discs together allow Proba-3 to view the corona to within 1.1 solar radii. The hole at the centre of the occulting disc is where the view of the corona is seen.